They may not sound as majestic as herds of elephants or flocks of migrating birds, but as these photos attest, there’s incredible beauty to be found in moss springtails and slime molds. Life is just as dramatic at a smaller scale, and, like in the macro world, water is key to survival.
For the Close-up Photographer of the Year Challenge: Water, photographers were invited to submit their photos showing water—and the life it supports—in intimate detail. Here are some of the finalists and winners of the competition.
